Seems I missed the "anymore" part as you stated and pointed out (unintentionally I assure you)...

Though digging deep enough under the pile of **** like "Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz" there is still a ton of incredible groups and performers inthe Hip Hop world.

Those I mentioned in my post are still making albums as we speak... I think it is still an incredible art form and beyond all the **** out there there is still an incredible amount of great work. What so many do not understand is that Hip Hop isn't just a form of music but also of so many things from breakdancing to graffitti... and a lot more in the mix.

It opened doors for so much more in the music world. Modern day geniuses like Beck have all paid homage to Hip Hop...

Like I mentioned any art form gets itself wh*red out... Look at punk and some of the utter garbage that was/is called punk... I mean Good Charlotte

Nevermind Joey Ramone turning in his grave for them allowing his music to be used for some cell phone commercial...

I read the thread on Blender rags greatest guitar thing and saw people talking about all kinds of incredible guitar players... but no one even dared mentioned Wyclef Jean who is w/out a doubt of one of the best out there...

Hip Hop is by far not about just the "gangsta" and "bling bling" that people always use as an example of the state of Hip Hop...

I looked into the Whipid and found out he's a likely candidate for release in the future.

I got an email this morning w/ an answer on Whipid and a few other things were mentioned as well...

That Bespin Leia is still looking like a sure fire candidate and also talk of the Cloud Car pilot (AND Cloud Car) are being mentioned. Also some interesting news was an "new" African American Bespin Guard ("new" meaning rehashed or new meaning "new" body... I go w/ the latter myself)

But what was more interesting was that Hasbro is supposedly watching the sales closely on the CW three packs. Some talk is if these are enough of a hit they could spawn off into Classic territory.

Some ideas that are said to have been tossed around is a three pack of Stormtroopers, Officers (including a grey version), Bespin Guards...

Of course until Hasbro announces anything officially things can be taken w/ a grain of salt. Next year is due to be a huge collector oriented year so anything is possible.

As far as Hem Dazon... that's still said to be coming Stan.Also you had asked previously about the Star Destroyer wave... I have heard the Dengar (as we know) and also of the Ozzel in that assortment.

Will there be more four packs from TRU? I'm hearing we should see these for a little bit more... that is unless the shelves at TRU aren't emptied out a little quicker than they have up until this point.

There is a new Stormie due out though I'm not sure he'll be released in that wave.

I don't really recognize rap as an art form, anymore. Just a bunch of ill written bling bling garbage. I enjoyed rap much more when 90% of the "artists'" songs were dedicated to killing each other...It painted a nice picture - if they are really gangstA, I thought, they will whipe themselves out within the year... saving me from having to hear another rap song again.

Kind of an ignorant "view" but I really have not come to expect much more from anyone these days...

There is far more to "rap" (Hip Hop) than the "gangsta" thugs and "bling bling"... Let me ask this have you ever in your life given a listen to the following artists...?

Should people then lop everyone that plays any form of rock be it classic or alternative into the weed smoking, heroin addicts that so many are? Sounds just as ignorant... or maybe not in your book

Hip Hop was a "fad" that was due to die well over 10 years ago and WOW still going... just like that pink shade wearing bunny. Amazing

There is a culture to Hip Hop that most have no minute clue about... It started out as an art form that was about people having fun and letting loose. Nothing that violent beyond any average street fight of the 70's and 80's...

Of course it got exploited and has run array but so does any form of "art"... There are some incredible people involved in the Hip Hop culture from lyrical geniuses (Rakim) to musical (Wyclef).

It's funny but even some of the old bad boys of rock have gone as far as sampling (etc) in their music... taken from Hip Hop one of the first genres to ever do so.There are producers (beyond P Diddy ) that are amazing and have worked w/ some of rocks bad boys in the Hip Hop field.

Then newest producers on the seen producing everything from Hip Hop to rock is The Neptunes. A crew I can almost guarantee we'll be hearing a lot more from in the coming days.

What's funny is that people sooo against the "vile" being that Hip Hop is... love them Beastie Boys. Granted they did have a start in punk... it's where they drifted off into that made them what they are today IMHO.

Though I thank the man upstairs for people like the Beasties that see beyond the ignornat view of Hip Hop and welcome it w/ open arms.

I love all music... Music is too beautiful a thing to limit one self... I can say the only form of music I can not listen is modern day country...

From David Bowie to Neil Diamond to Led Zep to The Roots... there is some incredible music to be heard...

But getting back on topic... Nothing at the moment has stuck in my head... although that annoying uh oh from Beyonce's song does when I hear that... which I try to hear as seldom as possible.

I haven't heard anything yet on him... though I wouldn't rule it out. I haven't heard from my HK source in a little bit other than the factory has been real busy catching up and doing the X-Mas rush...

The Hermie is/was on internal lists and was bounced around for a couple of ideas he could be used in.Bib is still on lists and far as I'm aware will be coming down the pike (and it is to be a new Return version)

I'll see what I can dig up on the Whipid though...Stan shoot me an email or PM... I haven't been around much and seems to be better that way...

Just a heads up of sorts to those I'm cool w/ here that are into variations...

The Arc Trooper is shipping w/ a pretty significant variation to it.

One is shipping w/ his right shoulder painted grey... the other is painted the same blue as the stripe.

Basically the stripe ends on the grey version whereas the stripe continues on the blue version. Also of note is the shoulder joint on the grey is not painted and is white, but on the blue it is painted blue like the stripe.

I do not have any pics since I well... haven't taken any yet... but if I get off my lazy *** I'll post some up.I believe these variation exist on both the single carded version and value pack.

I have a single carded and value pack carded but both are the grey... though I have 4 loose grey and 5 loose blue that all came from value packs. So I can say it at the very least exists on the value packs in both versions...

Being older than most, I have way more respect for someone that takes care of themselves than exploits their natural assets. I ain't saying I don't enjoy it, just appreciating the effort it takes after age starts fighting you rather than helping you.

I agree "old man"

I much more respect an older woman that hold herself high and makes sure she doesn't just it all fall out like many do. There is something far sexier to me in any woman 30+ that looks "HOT" than any 23 yr old...

At 23 most women should still be in tip top shape w/ the flat as board stomachs. Many have not gone through child birth at that point along w/ the many other parts of life that can take a toll on your body quickly.

I think Demi Moore is incredibly gorgeous for her age. Yes she also has had her surgey and has enough money to look as she does... but she also could skank it out like mommy Madonna... Demi just opts for the less skankier look... IMHO

I think what's funny about most men is that they MANY do not realize the amount of makeup, air brushing, etc, etc that goes into these "HOT" women. Do you think Ms. Skan-err I mean Aguilera is going to be all that "beautiful" when you roll over in the morning?Uhhh... yeah...

If some bitty walked by you on the street w/ skirt as short as Christina's you'd be much more likey to call her some skanky ho... but she does it and it's all good...

I just appreciate women that hold themselves to a higher level. Skank is easy... and seems to be "in style"

I think KB sat back and said you know what we are blowing out of the Clones and Jedi (and droid packs but not as quickly)... but now are sitting on these crap a** droid launchers...

They know it's going to end up taking them blowing these things out at like 3 bux before anyone touches them. So they lose money on them in that case... so raise the price on the sets in general and still seel them out at $14.99 that way when you need to blow the others at 3 bux you haven't lost all that much...

Price gouging? Not sure I'd call it that... in this case it's being a bit smarter...

Also one thing I just found out this week I never knew was that KB sells on eBay. I guess they've been doing it since Feb 2003 but this is the first I knew of it...I just find it really odd that a big box retailer decides to that route...

It's a real lull right now and it seems that just the true "hardcore" are sticking it out now...

I think like it has before though it'll pull out and be the"hot" thing again.

I do think almost all the reasons listed though are very valid as to why it's in a lull right now.

I saw many people b*tch for months that no product was hitting now there is stuff to be bought and people much more reluctant... if that's not a sign of what the economy has done alone then I'm not sure what is.

It's some rough time right now... but hopefully 2004 will start to change that all around quickly